In December 2013, Damian Roden received Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) treatment to address the results of suffering from four blood clots after a flight from Manchester to Cyprus.
Mr. Roden is senior director of sports science at Minnesota United (American professional football club) and at the time of his treatment was head of sports science and fitness at premier league Stoke City Football Club, first developed DVT, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, after the trip in 2009.
In the following five years, Damian suffered blood clots on his left leg and varicose veins on the right. Doctors in Manchester had advised against varicose vein treatment as a result of Damian being prescribed Warfarin to help thin the blood and avoid a return of his DVTs.
After just one brief 60-minute laser treatment appointment with the lead consultant at Veincentre, Dr. David West, both Damien’s pain and visible veins have vanished.
Damian comments: ” “Having varicose veins became more of a frustration than anything, let alone the appearance of them. It was a constant throbbing and daily discomfort”.
He says: “Part of my job is to train footballers and demonstrate a variety of techniques to help them prepare for the pitch but my energy levels had slowed down and I struggled to keep up. If I couldn’t do the sessions and demonstrate the technique, what chance did I have of motivating the footballers?”.
Eventually, Damian realised that due to his work and lifestyle: “If I didn’t do something soon, my veins would only get worse.
“Since the treatment”, he continues, “I can keep up with the fitness sessions. I feel like I have got my legs back from both an appearance and physical aspect”.
Veincentre is proud to deliver a minimally-invasive, non-surgical procedure that takes place without the need for general anaesthetic, in the form of EVLA.
EVLA is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for people seeking the removal of their varicose veins, particularly when delivered through a specialist vein clinic.
Speaking at the time of treatment Dr. David West, former medical director at Veincentre’s Stoke-on-Trent clinic, comments of the treatment’s popularity: “The removal of varicose veins through EVLA is becoming more popular and we are finding that it is just as common in men as it is women. In fact, around 50 percent of our clients are men and many are choosing this treatment as the preferred option.”
Dr. West continues: “Many doctors refuse to treat varicose veins by Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) if they are on the medication Damian was prescribed to thin the blood for fear of bleeding. We have successfully treated dozens of patients on warfarin without any problems.
“If his varicose veins were not treated, they would have eventually become more increasingly painful due to the amount of pressure he puts on his legs on a daily basis.”
As many people may know, Damian’s particular interest in sport stemmed from an early age and shaped his life dramatically: a former footballer for Wrexham Football Club, Damian has worked in the sports sector for 20 years.
Understandably, this sporting lifestyle meant Damian was keen to treat his condition – but not without difficulty. Damian reveals: “After my first blood clot appeared, the doctors advised me not to have treatment simply for vanity reasons as it would not prevent other blood clots appearing and could result in further complications.
“I was advised to walk and rest a lot but due to my job, it was really difficult. All I wanted to do was get back up on my feet and move around but my body would not allow it.”
“Veincentre’s Stoke clinic is located just a mile away from work and recommended by the club. Having EVLA treatment has given me a new lease of life and made a massive difference.”
Many people in the UK today suffer from unsightly or painful veins: research reveals that up to a third of the UK’s population suffer, with many afraid to seek help due to self-consciousness, surgical fears or anxieties about recovery.
EVLA, the revolutionary vein treatment, is the answer to many people’s concerns. A highly-efficient procedure, EVLA allows many patients to have their first appointment and treatment at the same time – a process that typically takes no longer than 90 minutes.
Dr. West explains: “Instead of the veins being stripped out using traditional surgery, the laser technique eliminates the unhealthy veins where they are leaving the patients with no haunting scars.”
The benefits of EVLA, he continues, are that the procedure is: “quick, efficient and effective. No anaesthetic is necessary, no cuts are made and most social activities and work-life can be resumed straight away. Most importantly the recurrence rate is very low compared to surgical stripping. In Damian’s case, it has allowed him to do his job properly.”
About Veincentre
Veincentre are the UK’s leading varicose veins specialists using Gold Standard, minimally invasive techniques, with 15 clinics nationwide.
At Veincentre, we provide the most effective, proven treatment and the highest quality of care that is accessible to everyone. We treat the cause, not just the symptoms! All our treatments are minimally invasive – walk-in, walk-out, require no general anaesthetic, no surgery and no time off work.
The most important aspect of care for any condition is the ability and attitude of the team of doctors and nurses looking after you. We have headhunted some of the most experienced and respected vein specialists in the UK. By choosing Veincentre, you can be assured that discomfort will be minimised, outcomes will be optimised, and you will be looked after by a team who really care for you
From your initial point of contact you will be communicating with our patient advisers, who only deal with patients who suffer from varicose veins so are all highly experienced and can confidently answer all of your queries or provide any advice.
Start your journey to healthy veins and happy legs…
Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.